Drusilla frowned. “What would have been so horrible about marrying Annaliese? She’s one of the most beautiful ladies in New York.”
“Beautiful or not, everyone knows Annaliese is odd, which certainly wouldn’t have helped my standing within the Four Hundred.”
“Simply because Annaliese enjoys studying insects doesn’t mean she’s odd. Many ladies enjoy studying butterflies and the like.”
“No, they enjoy painting pictures of them,” Elbert countered. “Annaliese observes them in a scientific manner and also refuses to maintain her bug collection in a cabinet of curiosity, preferring to keep her bugs alive and stored in glass containers, which even the thought of would send any normal lady reaching for her smelling salts.” He settled back in his chair. “Besides the bugs, though, she’s submitted articles for all the newspapers stating her position against plume hunters and was also recently spotted in Central Park during a rally against the fur industry. She’s turning into somewhat of a zealot with her questionable causes, and you mark my words, if she continues with her nonsense, she’ll be thrown out of the Four Hundred once and for all.”
“With you dissolving our engagement, I’m sure the Four Hundred will be turning their collective backs on my entire family since my mother will have no choice but to sell our last remaining asset—that being our house on Washington Square—to settle the remaining debts Sanford ran up in her name.”
Elbert blinked. “Surely you weren’t counting on me to settle those debts, were you?”
“How did you think we were going to settle the remaining debts?”
“I thought your mother would reach out to family members.”
Drusilla pressed a finger against a temple that was definitely beginning to throb. “I have no idea how it came to be that we’ve been engaged for over two years and yet you don’t seem aware of the fact that I only have one living relative—that being my aunt Ottilie. And before you claim that I never mentioned her to you, know that I distinctly remember telling you that she left for one of her frequent world adventures a few months before my father died, and that she wasn’t at the funeral because we sent word to her solicitor, Mr. William Baumgartner, to have him contact her but never heard back from him.”
“I don’t remember you ever mentioning anything about an Ottilie before, but if she has the wherewithal to fund a world adventure, she certainly has the means to look after you and your family.”
“Did you miss the part where I said we never heard back from her solicitor after we sent word to him about Father’s death?”
“Your aunt’s been on a world adventure for over two years?”
“She has, but that isn’t unusual since Aunt Ottilie enjoys exploring places that are off the beaten track, although...” Drusilla wrinkled her nose. “Now that we’re speaking of Aunt Ottilie, I suppose my family won’t be truly homeless, as Aunt Ottilie gave Annaliese and me some property in Chicago before she left on her adventure when she stopped by for a quick visit at our house on Washington Square. If memory serves me correctly, there’s some type of dwelling on that property as well.”
“You certainly never told me you and Annaliese own any property.”
“Because it’s in Chicago and I never had any interest to travel there, not when my family used to own places in Paris, Rome, and England—all of which, of course, have now been sold.”
Elbert leaned across the table. “Chicago’s not exactly a fashionable destination, but I’ve heard that real estate is booming there of late.” He edged forward another inch. “Do you happen to know if this property of yours is located anywhere near Prairie Avenue, where I know for a fact all the most prominent families live?”
“Aunt Ottilie never mentioned Prairie Avenue.”
“How unfortunate, although...” He caught her eye. “Did she mention anything about it being near Lake Michigan?”
“There might have been a mention of views of some water.”
“How encouraging, as that certainly puts a different light on matters since I imagine lakefront property is becoming desirable.” Elbert settled back in his chair. “All we need to do now is have this property assessed.”
“Because?”
“You could be sitting on a lot of money.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “And if I am?”
“There’d be no need for us to end our engagement.”
“Except that even if this property is worth something, Annaliese and I promised our aunt we’d always keep it in the family.”
“Why would you have done that?”
“Because Aunt Ottilie asked us to, and I certainly had no reason to argue the point as I had no way of knowing I’d ever be in a position where I needed funds. At that time, my family was one of the wealthiest in the country.”
Elbert waved that aside. “I’m sure if your aunt was aware of your current circumstances, she’d be more than happy to rescind the promise she had you make.”
“Perhaps she would, but since my aunt isn’t around to discuss the matter, I need to honor the word I gave her.”
“A woman giving her word isn’t the same as a gentleman giving his.”
